Make: Marble Arms & MFG.Co.

Model: Game Getter Gun (Model 1921)

Serial#: 17284

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1921-1962, C&R

Caliber: The upper barrel is .22 S/L/LR. The lower barrel is .44 GG and .410 Bore 2”.

Action Type: Single-Shot Top-Break, Over/Under Combination Gun

Markings: The left side of the barrel assembly is marked “MARBLE’S / GAME GETTER GUN / MARBLE ARMS & MFG.CO. / GLADSTONE.MICH.U.S.A.”. The right side of the barrel assembly is marked “UPPER BARREL 22 S.L.LR & N.R.A. / LOWER BARREL .44 GG & .410 2”. The top of the frame is marked “17284”.

Barrel Length: 18”

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a 3 leaf combination sight pinned to a screwed and dovetailed base atop the barrel assembly. The aperture leaf flips at the rear of the center U notch, and there is another U notch leaf that flips at the front.

Stock Configuration & Condition/Grip: The buttstock is an under-folding wire stock with a metal buttplate. The grips are 2-piece walnut screwed to the grip frame. The LOP is approximately 14 inches from the trigger to the back of the butt plate. There are nicks and scratches on the grips. There is oxidation and minor corrosion on the buttstock. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Steel, Blued, Stainless

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bores are bright. The rifling in the top bore is sharp. There is no erosion in either bore. The bores rate a 9/10 in this writer’s opinion. 

Overall Condition:  This combination gun retains about 94% of its finish. There is some finish loss near the muzzle. Both barrels and the frame have retained a nice color. The case hardening coloring is still quite bold on the trigger and hammer; the stock has some scuffs near the actionable area and spots of corrosion on the butt stock. Overall, this combination gun is in excellent condition. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel locks with no play on the receiver. We did not fire this gun. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box Paperwork and Accessories: A leather holster marked “Marbles” appropriate to the style and make of the ones sold at the time the weapon was in use. The holster is in very good shape.

Our Assessment:  The Marbles Game Getter is a unique and innovative firearm, a testament to early 20th-century ingenuity in gunmaking. Designed by Webster L. Marble in the early 1900s, the Game Getter was intended as a versatile survival weapon, catering to the needs of hunters, trappers, and outdoor adventurers of that era. Its distinctive design features a combination of two barrels, typically one rifled and one smoothbore, allowing for the use of different types of ammunition.

This over-under configuration often chambered in .22 caliber for the rifled barrel and .44 caliber for the smoothbore, offered a significant advantage in the field. Users could switch between shooting a small game with the .22 rimfire and a larger game or even self-defense with the .44 shotshell. This versatility was further enhanced by its compact, foldable design, making the Game Getter an ideal companion for extended trips in the wilderness.

Despite its practicality and innovative design, the Marbles Game Getter faced legal challenges due to its short barrel length and was eventually classified under regulations restricting such firearms. However, models that were made with 16” + barrels remain legal and very collectible. Today, it is highly sought after by collectors and historical firearm enthusiasts, prized for its unique design and the glimpse it offers into the early 20th-century American outdoor lifestyle. The Marbles Game Getter remains a fascinating piece of firearms history, embodying the spirit of innovation and the multi-purpose utility that was highly valued in the era of its creation.